Issue 123

Rich Franklin's business partner Jeff Adler offers a psychological insight into his friend Rich 'Ace' Franklin, including he's somewhat unusual eating habits...

Q: What is it about Rich’s training that has allowed him to keep fighting at such a high level for so long?

Jeff: “Staying in shape physically and nutritionally, pretty much 24/7. He has his cheat meals, but he never falls out of shape. Because of that, it’s kept him able to do what he does. That and just the desire he has to compete.”

Q: His shoulder injury kept him away from training for the longest period of his career, what was his attitude like?

“It was pretty positive. In the beginning he wondered if his shoulder would heal 100%. He’s the type of guy that if he’s not 100%, he won’t fight. Not meaning that he won’t walk into the ring with a sore knee or black eye or something, but if he has a serious injury he won’t do it. He worked hard in rehab and healed quicker than the doctors said he would. There was a brief thought it could be the end of his career. Anyone would think like that, but you only think like that for a minute. The rest of the time you’re working hard, training and trying to get back to what you love to do.”

Q: He seems like one of the first fighters to really utilize multiple trainers. How has that help his evolvement?

“Over the years you have to mix things up a little bit. You lose a fight, you try to figure out what happened and then compensate for that. He’s had some different camps, but always mainly stuck to the camp at home with Jorge [Gurgel] and those guys. He’s trained with Mark DellaGrotte, Matt Hume, but he always finds his way back to his main camp in Cincinnati. When you trust a bunch of guys like that in a sport like this… he’s a very loyal guy.”

Q: There are some legendary stories about his cheat meals, can you fill us in?

“You’ve never seen anyone eat like he can. You would think he was professional eating competitor or something. In one sitting he can probably put down a large pizza with everything on it, and that’s after he’s had a couple of appetizers consisting of cheese sticks and potato skins. Then he’ll go home and eat a half a box of Oreo cookies and a bag of M&M’s. He’ll rest for a couple of hours and do it all over again. It’s crazy.”

Q: How do you think he views his own legacy in the sport?

“He’s always remained really humble and he doesn’t look at himself as anything special. That’s just the way he is and the reason fans love him so much. But he really is one of the pioneers through the transition of the sport in the early-to-mid 2000s to what it is today. Guys like him and Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell will always be remembered in the sport, just like we remember Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in baseball.”